Meet The People of Tanlines: a Latinx Party/Pop-Up Mall

Last summer, Tanlines was the best day party around. The queer Latinx-centered party happened in the backyard of popular Brooklyn gay bar The Rosemont, and in addition to dancing and shows by drag queens there were frequently pop-up shops by local Brooklyn designers and artists. I got a baby pink choker with a giant dangling safety pin for 10 bucks and marveled at how many different ways a drag queen could utilize a kiddie pool in a performance. This year the party is celebrating their season opener at the Knockdown Center. I took a moment to give you a peek at the peeps who will be there. They’re worth checking out even if you make the mistake of missing the party Saturday.

Musicians

La Favi

La Favi (also known as La Serena or The Mermaid) is a reggaeton artist originally from Oakland who now resides in Madrid. She’s part of the Neo-Perreo movement of expanding the scope of what Reggaeton can be, often by including the voices of women as well as making sonic advancements. La Favi mixes disparate elements like Flamenco and Trap music together in her music and is a frequent collaborator with Ms Nina.

Drag Performers

One of Brooklyn’s original artsy-fartsy queens, last year she performed at Tanlines dressed as a mermaid, complete with her legs bound as a tail. At a recent nightgown performance, she wore a yarn dress by fellow Tanlines girl Farrada’s Knits that got pulled apart onstage as she lip-synced “Drunk Driver/ Killer Whales” by Car Seat Headrest. She’s a Latinx queen who also reps the weird kids, a crossover that doesn’t get it’s proper due.

To get an idea of this drag queen’s persona picture Amy Pohler’s ‘cool mom’ character in Mean Girls except Crystal Mesh wouldn’t rather you drink in the house, she’d rather take a shot with you at the bar. When she’s not cracking jokes on the mic, she makes lo-fi pop songs with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Last year’s hit was a hilarious ode to a horrible customer “May I Speak To The Manager.” This year she’s got a potential summer anthem with “My Cabana.”

She’s been named as a local favorite by nationally known queen Aja, and her face has been smiling out from ads on buses all summer. Zenobia serves up drag staples like voguing, backbends, and hair flips. There’s a subtle political edge to her performances as well: she only performs songs by black femmes of color.

This brand makes Graphic T-Shirts. One shirt features words like “Maricon” and “Fag” alongside statements like “proud,” doing the classic trick of reclaiming slurs with a Latinx focus. I especially like the pastel pink “2’s DAZE” long sleeve.

Knitwear that you may love even if it makes your grandma raise her eyebrows. Plus, she’s got a fab collection of statement earrings to spice up that tired t-shirt and jeans combo you wear to every show.

This drag queen makes biningkas, which I hadn’t ever heard of before I had one of hers at a party. A bibingka is coconut rice cake, normally made in a sheet pan like brownies, but the Bibingka Mama makes hers in cupcake tins so every cake is a delicious edge piece.

Don’t tell my day job at Buffalo Exchange, but I don’t know a lot about fashion. I do know that this stuff gives very ‘chic publicist at a launch party sending an important email before popping a pill’ vibes and I think we all could use a bit of that energy in our lives every now and then.

This tattoo artist’s art reminds me of the characters from Halloweentown. They’re simply rendered, but filled with melancholy. Since Sasha Brat’s work is 2-d as opposed to claymation, they’ve got even more of a pop-art feel.

If you don’t do Tarot odds are you know someone who does, whether they’ve been doing readings for decades or they just downloaded a how-to pdf and are claiming to be in touch with higher forces. Either way, nab your pal this tarot deck covered in its namesake flowers and with watercolor accents.

Earthy clothes that are inspired by a “natural spiritual process with (a) slowly creative thoughtful lifestyle.” I’m too cynical to get into these kinds of clothes/sentiments but if you really like yoga I bet you’d think is was cute.

Nails that look liked smoked glass, pretty rocks you’d find in the bottom of a stream, or something Solange would wear. They’re also not normally in the long talon variety, opting instead for a more rounded natural edge that’s better suited for practical use.

This queer photographer is including more than just white twinks in his shots. His black and white portraits sometimes feature naked subjects, but their intent isn’t to arouse. Instead, the gravity that the subjects are treated with honors these queer figures in a way that many of them aren’t in the wider (straighter) world.

I have been following this artist for 8 years, ever since I found them in the area of Tumblr that was drowning in riot grrrl nostalgia. Lots of artists are into this ‘feminist witch’ aesthetic, but Modern Girl Blitz’s knack for graphic design makes their work look more refined than the average Etsy shop. They’ve got pins, prints, patches, totes, shirts, all with plenty of colors to compliment the politics.

DJs

Nominated for “Best DJ” at this year’s Brooklyn Nightlife Awards, this queen will play raunchy rap tunes, Hillary Duff b-sides, and Lantinx cuts while asking the entire time if you’re coming to the afterparty.